The SunSpec Alliance is pleased to announce the availability of its first energy storage specification, the SunSpec Energy Storage Models (ES) Specification, now available for download with other supporting SunSpec specifications at www.SunSpec.org.
This specification is open for review and was developed by the SunSpec Energy Storage Workgroup with the collaboration of the MESA Alliance. View a technical and market background document here.
The SunSpec ES Specification is built on the SunSpec Common Model. The SunSpec Energy Storage Workgroup (which includes 1Energy, Advanced Energy, SMA, Outback Power, Ideal Power Converters, and Loggerware with collaboration with from the MESA Standards Alliance) started with the SunSpec Inverter Control Models (for Power Conversion) and built on the SunSpec Common Models and SunSpec Meter Models plus storage system develop the SunSpec Energy Storage Specification.
The SunSpec ES Specification integrates different components of an energy storage system (power meters, power conversion systems, and batteries) and supports a variety of energy storage applications from large, multi-megawatt-hour systems deployed at utility substations, to islanded microgrid installations and smaller systems connected on the customer side of the meter.
An increasing number of grid-connected energy storage systems are being deployed to enable energy arbitrage, better integration of renewables (especially solar), voltage support, microgrids, and other scenarios. Hoverever, a lack of standards and high integration costs are impeding the technology’s adoption.
The goals of SunSpec standards are to address the operational aspects of distributed generation power plants and storage on the smart grid and thus reduce costs, promote technology innovation, and accelerate industry growth.
Learn more about the SunSpec alliance in our podcast with the team at Intersolar 2014.